Chapter 122: SuSu Has Her Own Mind
Chapter 122: SuSu Has Her Own Mind
The Princess of Qi had finished grooming SuSu and herself when they emerged to greet the Marquis of Huguo.
The Marquis, in his forties, appeared older than the Princess. Though his hair hadn't turned white, he sported a goatee that lent him a mature look. The beard was half-white, which, paired with his otherwise youthful face, gave him a somewhat comical appearance.
Upon seeing the Princess, the Marquis stood to pay his respects and once more expressed the Grand Princess's gratitude.
The Princess of Qi waved dismissively before inviting him to sit and chat.
SuSu obediently allowed her mother to lead her, and after her mother was seated, she stood beside the chair, her small hand clinging to her mother's arm. Her beautiful, lively eyes shyly observed the Marquis from a distance.
The Marquis of Huguo had already caught sight of SuSu when she entered with the Princess.
With such a significant event occurring the day prior, the Marquis naturally returned to the Grand Princess's residence.
He had heard quite a bit about SuSu's situation.
While he didn't inquire about the specifics, he pondered the matter, noticing the Princess's deep affection for the child. Smiling, he greeted SuSu, "So, this must be SuSu? What a lovely young lady."
Suddenly receiving praise from an older uncle, SuSu felt a bit embarrassed, nibbling on her lip as she shifted closer to her mother.
Despite her shyness, SuSu didn't forget her manners, her voice clear and crisp, "Hello, Uncle. Thank you for calling me lovely."
Her face reddened as she finished speaking.
The Princess of Qi beamed at SuSu's adorable demeanor, her hand itching to reach out and touch her daughter's cheek.
"My daughter is so adorable!" she thought.
However, mindful of the company, the Princess restrained herself, turning her head to first thank the Marquis for his compliment and then to inquire carefully about the Grand Princess's well-being and safety.
Learning that all was well and that there were no casualties at the separate residence, only some damage to buildings and fields, the Princess finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thankfully, thankfully, there were no casualties. That is the best news."
For people of their stature, mere destruction of property was not a significant concern.
The Marquis of Huguo evidently shared this sentiment, nodding in agreement, "We were fortunate to be spared, thanks to the light of the imperial court."
Hearing these words, the Princess's heart skipped a beat. Even though she knew he was merely being polite, she still felt guilty!
Thus, she quickly waved her hand, "No, no, it's thanks to the light of the royal family."
After exchanging pleasantries, the Marquis grew curious, "When I arrived just now, I heard that the Princess was helping the young lady with charcoal drawing. How is it going? Would you like me to offer some guidance? I often assist with charcoal drawing at the Ministry of Industry."
The Princess of Qi felt that SuSu's playtime was something for their residence to enjoy together, and it wasn't necessary to involve others. After all, if they failed to ignite the charcoal, SuSu might be disappointed.
She had originally intended to decline directly, but when she turned to meet SuSu's expectant gaze, the words on the tip of her tongue seemed to vanish.
After a moment's thought, she smiled and nodded, "In that case, I would appreciate your help."
The Marquis of Huguo waved dismissively, "It's no trouble at all. Just don't think me prying, Princess."
"Of course, of course," the Princess agreed politely.
The group made their way to the charcoal drying area in the back courtyard.
SuSu approached the charcoal drawing with great earnestness.
Although the proportions were sometimes off, resulting in less-than-ideal shapes,
SuSu didn't quite understand what was going on, but she nodded eagerly. "If more people have charcoal, will fewer people be freezing to death or get hurt by the cold this winter?" she thought. "I don't mind giving these away if it means more people will stay warm."
The Marquis of Huguo was intrigued by the idea. He asked, "May I take some of these back to the Ministry of Industry to experiment and see how they work?"
Not wanting to make a decision without SuSu's input, the Princess turned to her daughter and asked for her opinion. "SuSu, what do you think about giving these away? If you don't want to, we can keep them and play with them ourselves."
SuSu snuggled closer to her mother and shyly voiced her thoughts. "I listen to Mother. I like them, and I want to give them away!"
The Princess's heart melted at her daughter's words. She gently stroked SuSu's head and said in a soft tone, "You shouldn't always just listen to me, SuSu. You need to have your own opinions. It's okay to like something and want to keep it."
SuSu's enthusiasm for charcoal-making had been fueled by her playmates, and she had thoroughly enjoyed the morning's activity. But she didn't overly concern herself with the outcome.
"I like it, and I want to give it away!" she exclaimed, her voice full of innocence and sincerity.
"
(End of Chapter)"
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